The Supreme Court on Thursday admitted the Centre’s plea to review its judgment which had stipulated that only sitting or retired chief justices of high courts or an apex court judge can head the Central and state information commissions.
While admitting the plea, a bench of justices A K Patnaik and Swatanter Kumar, however, made it clear its verdict for appointment of people from judicial background in information commissions was not aimed at rehabilitating judges but to make information panels independent of the government’s influence.
The bench said the government appoint those persons in the commissions who are in its good book and asked as to how such favourites of government can pass orders against their appointing authority.
“You have to ensure that the body is independent. You find people, who are in good books of the government, are appointed. How would these persons pass order against the same authority who has appointed him,” the bench remarked.
“If Right to Information is to be effectively implemented then the commissions must be headed by a person independent of all authorities,” the bench said.
Agreeing to hear the Centre’s review petition, the bench issued notice to Namit Sharma, on whose plea the apex court had delivered its September 13 verdict.
The Centre had moved the apex court for review of its verdict saying it is against the provisions of the Right to Information Act.
